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Stagecoach in Preston is a
network of bus routes running within the
City of Preston and into the surrounding area. It was
founded in 2009 after Stagecoach
Group acquired Preston Bus that was
founded in 1904. They now operate from the main depot on Deepdale
Road and their other depot on Selbourne Street.

Both companies accused each other of unprofessional behaviour, with
some Stagecoach drivers reported to have thrown eggs at Preston
Buses.

On 10 June 2008, both companies were agreed to a code of practice
by the traffic commissioner. Competition continued, Stagecoach
operating routes within Preston and Preston Bus operating a route
between Preston and Penwortham.

On 30 December 2008, it was announced that Stagecoach had
approached Preston Bus to negotiate a possible sale. This was
agreed and on 23 January 2009 Stagecoach North West purchased
Preston Bus for £10.4 million. From March 2009, the combined
network of routes was rebranded as Stagecoach in Preston.

On 28 May 2009, the Office of
Fair Trading announced that it was referring the purchase of
Preston Bus by Stagecoach to the Competition Commission. Their
provisional findings are that the purchase has reduced competition
and may potentially harm the interests of passengers. Possible
remedies may involve the sale of part or all of the business,
measures to encourage new entry by other operators, as well as
controls on fares and requirements to maintain service levels. The
final report is due by 12 November 2009.

On the 12 November 2009 The Competition Commission submitted that
Stagecoach would have a time limit in which it had to sell many of
its routes and one of the two depots to a competing company. It
hasn't been decided about the fleet yet. There have been complaints
about this.

Also branded as Stagecoach Expess , Easy Access buses used 50%
of the time.

Preston park and ride

All park and ride buses are Easy AccessServices 1 & 2 primarily
use Optare Solo SRs, Optare Solos are additionally used at peak
periods. The Orbits are 88A & 88C and therefore use Optare
Solos.

No.

From

To

Fast Fare/Gives Change

Notes

1

Preston

Portway

Gives Change

2

Preston

Walton-le-Dale

Gives Change

orbits

Preston

Bluebell Way

Fast Fare

School services

Stagecoach in Preston also provides school
buses to secondary school and colleges in Preston and the Wyre,
running as far as Cabus and Garstang to the north, Accrington to
the east, Chorley to the south and Blackpool to the west. This uses
mostly the Olympians.

Brands

Network Ribble Valley - 4 (Stagecoach in Lancashire route 5
from Longridge - Clitheroe and Clitheroe local services are run
under the same brand).

Fylde Coastliner - 61, 68.

Stagecoach Express - X61

Boomerang - 150, 151

Route 113 - 113

X2 - X2

Park & Ride - 1 Portway, 2 Walton-le-Dale, Orbit serves
Bluebell Way

Others - 2B, X59

Depots

Stagecoach in Preston use two depots.

The main one is the one previously owned by Preston Bus, on
Deepdale Road. This can hold over 150 buses and holds those
previously owned by Preston Bus, sometimes a Megabus coach and some
Dart SLFs and Enviro 400s. In the Optare Solos it only holds the
ones that don't give change.

The other smaller one is on Selbourne Street. This holds buses used
on Fylde Coastliner, Network Ribble Valley, the Coaches and the
change giving Solos. It also holds some Dart SLFS and Enviro 400s.
This was previously owned by Stagecoach in Lancashire, and before
that Ribble Motor Services.

Fares

Stagecoach in Preston operates mostly with a fixed fare rate within
the citi area, which stretches from Broughton Roundabout to
Walton-le-Dale (White Bull/Walton Green), from Penwortham
(Kingsfold Estate/Booths Store/Howick Cross) to Roman Way and from
Lea to Samlesbury (Tickled Trout). On services not subsidised by
Lancashire County Council, there is an under-16 Flat Fare of 60p
for anywhere withing the Citi Zone. The Citi area covers the whole
urban area of Preston.

From 20th September 2009, Preston Citi fares will be as such:

There are three zones within the citi area, and this applies to
adult fares. Travelling within one zone costs 90p. Going from one
zone into another is £1.10. Crossing 2 boundaries is £1.30.On
services subsidised by Lancashire County Council the fares are
judged by distance, and child fares are half of the adult fares.
The three zones are as such:

The Citi fares apply to all Stagecoach services that run within the
Preston Citi area, with the exception of journeys which are
subsidised by Lancashire County Council. Outside the Citi area, the
fare prices are decided by the length of the journey. e.g. 40/41
from Lancaster into Preston or Preston to Lancaster depends on
distance, but from Black Bull into the City Centre or the City
Centre to Black Bull is citizone fares.

Preston Bus operated a fast fare system for many years before being
taken over by Stagecoach. This was because they had noted that many
of their services had turned up being delayed due to the bus driver
being short of change. So they introduced the fast fare system, a
new system of precise, expected fares and no change given. This was
good for time, but bad for people who had no change and just a £5
note.

When Stagecoach Preston Citi began, they noticed that some people
were left behind with their £5 notes. So they posted on all their
buses that change was accepted. Stagecoach's biggest service in
Preston was the service 3, so Preston Bus gave change on that
service only.

When Stagecoach in Preston started, along with new fares, some
services (specified above) were made to accept change. These mainly
consisted of former Stagecoach Preston Citi services, but some
former Citi services (e.g. 11) have been kept under Fast Fare due
to the buses used on them not having a compartment to keep change.
As well as repainting buses, Stagecoach in Preston are trying to
change interiors so that they can stop the Fast Fare system.

There are two types of bus pass for Preston - Preston Citirider and
Preston Megarider.Map of Preston Citizone and information about
Citi fares can be found through this link -
http://www.prestonbus.co.uk/images/PrestonCitiFares_Feb2009.pdfMap
of Preston Megarider and information about ALL tickets in Preston
can be found through this link -
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/shop/index.php?action=&sid=20090913105945-6832&product_id=14&location_id=20&x=35&y=6

2 Leyland Lynx large single deckers
bought between 1989 and 1991 (Originally 5 others at point of
sale). Used mainly on school services and kept at bus depot for
rest of the day for times when they need extra buses.In Preston Bus
livery..

27 Leyland Olympian double
deckers, one new in 1984, the others bought between 1989 and 1992
(10 examples purchased second hand from Lothian Buses in 2003). Mainly kept in depot,
but usage on services not contracted to easy access bus, school
services, planned use on service 7 four times a day and
occasionally on service 11. Otherwise mainly kept in depot and only
used in emergencies. Around 22 in Preston Bus livery and rest in
Stagecoach in Preston livery. Also used on 89.,. Originate from
Preston Bus.

2 Scania N94UDOmniDekka, bought in 2006. Used regularly
only on 23 & 35 and used occasionally on 11, 1 in Preston Bus
livery and one in Stagecoach Preston Citi livery. ,,. Originate
from Preston Bus.

2 Optare Versa large single
deckers. Used mainly on 3, 9, 16, 19 & 22. Sometimes used on 61
& 68. Both in Citi Livery.. Originate from Stagecoach.

22 Alexander Dennis
Enviro 400 double deckers, most bought in 2006 & 2007 which
some are ex Stagecoach Newcastle. Used mainly on 1,2,X2,X61
sometimes on 19,22. Also used occasionally on 61,68. Around 23 in
Stagecoach Preston Citi livery and around 7 in X2 livery. The ones
in Citi livery are all pure Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s. The ones
in X2 livery are Alexander Enviro 400s with Scania engines and
chasses.,. Originate from Stagecoach.

22 Dennis Dart SLF single
deckers bought used & new from Stagecoach Preston Citi
2004–2006. Used mainly on 3, 9, 16 19,22 & occasionally on 2.
All in Stagecoach Preston Citi livery. 2 have East Lancs Spryte
bodies and are from 1996 (bought used), 15 have Plaxton Pointer
(recent) bodies and were bought new 2003-2004. 5 have other bodies
which are from 1999 (bought used). . Originate from
Stagecoach.

15 Volvo B10M large single deckers
used mainly on Fylde Coastliner Services and X59, but also kept in
depot for times when more buses are in need. All in Stagecoach
Fylde Coastliner livery.,. Originate from Stagecoach.

4 MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300
large single deckers used on 9, 16 and occasionally on 2, 3, 19,
22. All in Preston Citi livery. Previously these buses were in
service with Stagecoach in Fife, and were swapped with 5 Solos from
Fleetwood Outstation, made available by a drop in PVR. Were
repainted into Preston Citi in September 2009 and first used on the
second week of September 2009. Originate from Stagecoaach.

15 Coaches used on X59 and X61 sometimes. Occasionally used on
X2. Originally from Stagecoach, some plainly branded Stagecoach,
others with Stagecoach Express.

Most Optare Esteem and many Dennis Tridents have had their ticket
machines changed to give out Stagecoach North West Tickets and to
accept change.

At the time of Stagecoach's purchase of Preston Bus, there were 23
Enviro 400s and 22 Dennis Darts. Some of the former Stagecoach in
Lancashire Optare Solos, a total of 47 vehicles including those
branded as "Preston Citi", have also been added to the fleet. This
is in addition to the 50 Solos owned by Preston Bus before the time
of purchase.